Elaine Thompson/APFederal stimulus money will fund the removal of this dam on the Elwha River in Washington's Olympic National Park.

Oregon's units of the National Park System will get about $1 million in federal stimulus spending, while Washington will get more than $62 million, from the recovery bill passed by Congress in February.

The largest project will be funding for $54.7 million for the planned removal of the Elwha River dams in Olympic National Park.

National Park Service Announces Recovery Act Projects; $57.8 Million for Projects in Olympic National Park

The National Park Service (NPS) announced nearly 800 projects
totaling $750 million that can be completed across the country with
funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This
major effort includes 14 projects in Olympic National Park.

"These projects are an investment in America's future that will create
jobs, stimulate the economies of local communities, and get our country
moving again," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. "They are
also an investment in telling the story of America to future generations
through our national parks by conserving our awe-inspiring landscapes,
our rich culture, and our great heritage."

"Recovery Act funding gives us the exciting opportunity to move forward
more quickly with one of this country's largest and most significant
conservation projects - restoring the Elwha River and ecosystem," said
Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. "Not only will
over 200 jobs be created in the next year, but dam removal will begin in
2011, one year earlier than projected."

Projects within Olympic National Park are:

$54.7 million to complete nine mitigation projects in preparation
for removal of two dams on the Elwha River, the nation's largest
dam removal to date, and restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem.
These mitigation projects will provide water quality protection,
flood and wastewater system protection and a fish hatchery to
protect fish stocks during dam removal and aid in fish
restoration.

$3.1 million for five additional high-priority projects in Olympic
National Park, including:

Installation of new electrical cable in the conduit along
the Hurricane Ridge Road to provide power to the Hurricane
Ridge Visitor Center. The new cable will replace the
existing line along the Whiskey Bend Trail, within park
wilderness.

Rehabilitation of the Boulder Creek trail and former
automobile campground, by converting two miles of abandoned
road to a trail, remove failing culverts, and restore the
Boulder Creek campground.

Replacement of the aging sewer system at the Hoh Rain
Forest, which serves the needs of the campground, picnic
area, visitor center and employee housing area. The
world-renowned Hoh Rain Forest receives approximately
150,000 visits each year.

Rehabilitation of four road bridges to ensure continued safe
use of the bridges and comply with Federal Highway
Administration recommendations. Two bridges are located
along the Hoh Road, which provides access to the Hoh Rain
Forest, one bridge is on the Camp David Junior Road along
the north shore of Lake Crescent and on is on the Rialto
Beach Road.

Replacement of deteriorated roofing on both historic and
non-historic structures throughout the park.

"Each of these projects will help us better serve park visitors and
better protect park resources for the future," said Gustin.

All of the projects announced are long-standing priorities of the
National Park Service and meet the criteria put forth in the Recovery
Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department's highest priority
mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest
period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and
accountability in the implementation of the Department's economic
recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of
each project on the recovery web site and on
www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.
Here's a news release from Mount Rainier about its $3.3 million in stimulus funds:

Mount Rainier Acting Superintendent Randy King announces that the park hasbeen notified it is slated to receive $3.312 million to fund nine
identified projects under the Administration's economic stimulus program.
Those projects include:

· Improve public access to Carbon River Area - The Carbon River
Entrance Road, Ipsut Campground and Ranger Station were severely damaged in November, 2006 by floods. A planning process is underway to determine how public access will be provided into the Carbon River area, and which
facilities will be repaired, removed or relocated. A decision is expected
by the end of the year. This project will implement the Carbon River
public access and facilities plan, including the construction of parking
areas, flood protection structures, and trails; convert the Ipsut
Campground to a backcountry campground; and replace or relocate
facilities, including the Ipsut Ranger Station.

· Replace exhibits at Sunrise Visitor Center and improve access for
people with disabilities to view exhibits - This project will replace and
update the dated, 1970s era exhibits at the Sunrise Visitor Center, and
provide ADA compliant exhibits and services to meet contemporary standards.

· Repair storm damaged trails - This project will repair park trails
and bridges damaged in the November 2006 floods and subsequent storm
events. Specific work includes major reroutes on the Glacier Basin and
Carbon River Wonderland Trail; a reroute on the Kautz Creek Trail;
installation of guard rail on the Silver Falls Trail at Ohanapecosh;
Stevens Canyon Wonderland Trail repairs; and repairs to bridges at Deer
Creek, Stevens Creek, Martha Falls, Paradise River, Devils Dream, and the
Ohanapecosh River. Members of the Washington Conservation Corps,
EarthCorps, Northwest Youth Corps, Student Conservation Association, and
volunteers from the Sierra Club, and Washington Trails Association will be
engaged in working with park trail crews to accomplish these projects.

· Stabilize riverbank and repair damaged pavement on Longmire back road
- $482,000 - In 2006, the road and river bank adjacent to the historic
Longmire Community Building and Campground, and the parking lot for the
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) were damaged by floods. This project will construct a 300-foot long concrete and rock flood barrier in the ground
adjacent to the road, Community Building and campground to protect them
from future flood events. A half-mile of flood damaged roadway will be
repaved by a contractor.

· Replace electric power lines at Narada Falls overlook - The power
line that serves Paradise, the park's most popular visitor destination, was
damaged during a storm in November 2008. This project will enable
permanent repairs to the primary power line at Narada Falls.

· Build accessible trailhead at new Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor
Center - This project completes another phase of the restoration of
Paradise by constructing ADA compliant trailheads to connect visitors to
the Paradise meadows from the new Jackson Memorial Visitor Center and the Paradise Inn.

· Fix structural problems in historic buildings - This project will
replace foundations, support posts, and containment walls on several
historic structures at Longmire that are in poor condition.

· Install grid-tied solar systems on park buildings - Mount Rainier
National Park has set a goal to be carbon neutral in park operations by
2016, the centennial of the National Park Service. This project will help
the park toward that goal by installing a grid-tied photovoltaic system on
the Longmire Emergency Operations Center. This facility was selected due
to its proximity to the Nisqually River, which provides superior solar
exposure year-round. The system will be able to generate a total of 10kw
and will offset commercial power used by the park.

This funding reflects just nine of nearly 800 projects ($750 million) that
will be completed under this Act in national park areas nationwide. In
Washington State Olympic, North Cascades, Fort Vancouver, Lake Roosevelt and Whitman Mission also received funding with Olympic receiving $54.7
million for mitigation projects related to the removal of the Elwha Dam and
restoration of the Elwha River basin. Total funding for Washington
national park areas is $62,198 million.

King stated "We are excited about the opportunity to move ahead with these
important projects. Recovery Act funding will improve facilities that
directly serve visitors to Mount Rainier, while creating jobs that will
benefit individuals, businesses and communities."
More stimulus funded projects in Washington's national park units:

Fort Vancouver: Replace System Components for Fire and Intrusion Alarms; Resurface Visitor Use Trails. Total $99,000.

Lake Roosevelt: Install Micro Hydro System and Grid Tied Power Production at Fort Spokane Water System; Install Photovoltaic System at Fort Spokane Shop and Office Building;
Install Photovoltaic System at Headquarters Building; Perform Energy Retrofit of Fort Spokane and Kettle Falls Buildings. Total $353,000.

Environmental analysis for rehabilitation of the Graves Creek and South
Shore Roads in the Quinault Valley of Olympic National Park has been
completed and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been released.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluating alternative proposals to repair the two roads was released in September 2008; both roads sustained heavy
damage during a major storm late in 2007. Based on input provided during
the public comment period, a combination of two of the alternatives will be
implemented, with the goal of restoring and providing sustainable access to
the Graves Creek and South Shore roads with the addition of selected
improvements that incorporate protective measures for habitat restoration.

"Our goal is to provide sustainable visitor access to the Quinault Rain
Forest, while protecting important habitat and resources," said Olympic
National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. "We look forward to beginning
repairs this summer and reopening the Graves Creek Road to vehicles this
fall."

Graves Creek Road was severely damaged at eight locations along its six
mile length. It remains closed to vehicle traffic, but is currently open
for pedestrian, bicycle and stock use. Construction will begin on the
Graves Creek Road mid July, with completion scheduled for the end of
October this year.

The South Shore Road sustained damage from flood waters during the same
storm; emergency repairs were completed and the road reopened to motor
vehicles last April.

Both the Graves Creek and South Shore roads are important access routes for the Quinault Rain Forest. Together with the North Shore Road, the South
Shore Road provides a popular loop drive through the Quinault Rain Forest.
The Graves Creek Road provides access to the Graves Creek Campground and ranger station and to a popular trailhead.

The Graves Creek and South Shore Road FONSI may be reviewed online by
selecting Olympic National Park at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/olym. For more information or for a printed copy of the FONSI, you may call the park at 360-565-3004.

A North Cascades National Park News Release

North Cascades National Park maintenance crews, with the assistance of two local construction companies, successfully installed a new bridge on the
Cascade River Road over the North Fork of the Cascade River. The
construction of the new bridge was a challenge due to the remote location
and narrowness of the road. It was not possible to navigate the two 85-foot
sections of the bridge which were manufactured by Big R Manufacturing of
Greeley, Colorado via truck and trailer around the tight corners.

Approximately one month ago, park maintenance crews and Donald K. Moore Construction of Rockport, Washington took advantage of the winter's
lingering snow and dragged the two sections over the ice to the bridge's
new location. Last week, Sicklesteel Cranes, Inc. of Mount Vernon,
Washington maneuvered a 180-ton crane up the road to set the two sections into place.

"Thanks to the leadership of the Washington congressional delegation,
particularly Congressmen Rick Larsen and Norm Dicks and Senators Patty
Murray and Maria Cantwell, we have funding to fix this road and maintain
summer access to the park's most popular trailhead," said Chip Jenkins,
Superintendent of North Cascades National Park Complex.

Fall 2006 storms caused extensive damage to the Cascade River Road.

Emergency repairs provided temporary passage through the damage in 2007 and
2008. Long-term repairs began last fall as park maintenance crews and heavy
equipment operators from Donald K. Moore Construction built new bridge
abutments and footings. After last week's successful placement of the new
bridge, park maintenance crews will continue the installation process by
bolting sections together, welding the bridge to the footings, and building
approaches.

The North Fork Bridge was placed ahead of schedule, and will now enable
repairs to be completed further up the Cascade River Road where it crosses
Boston Creek in order to have the road ready for its traditional opening to
the Cascade Pass Trailhead the Fourth of July weekend.
-- Terry Richard;terryrichard@news.oregonian.com